Requirements for the formation of oral language skills in German

Abstract

The article deals with the analysis of the basic requirements for the formation of oral German speaking skills. The paper reveals the essence of oral communication, key aspects that influence the development of students’ communicative skills, in particular, the importance of grammatical correctness, expanding vocabulary, development of phonetic and intonation skills. It emphasizes the relationship between learning and real-life communication situations, and it also talks about speaking as a target skill as well as an intermediate skill. The purpose of the article is to reveal the role of speaking and its relationship with other types of speech activities, present the stages of the speaking model, outline the requirements for the development of oral communication skills and the criteria for the students’ successful speech activity. The article presents the speaking model that is characterized by three stages: conceptual (the conversation is planned), forming (vocabulary and grammar are selected to formulate the statement) and articulatory (the statement is made). Research methods. A set of general scientific and special methods has been used: analysis, synthesis, generalization of psychological, pedagogical and methodological literature, modeling of the educational process as well as observation and analysis of learning outcomes. Particular attention is paid to the methods and approaches used for the effective development of these skills at different stages of language learning, typical exercises for activating vocabulary have been introduced.

Results. As a result of the study the most effective strategies and recommendations for teachers and methodologists that can help improve learning as well as the criteria for successful speaking activities, which include students communication with each other in German, a talk about themselves or the content they are interested in, high and balanced participation in oral communication, high motivation to speak, fluent and understandable oral communication, have been highlighted. Conclusions. The results of the testing showed an increasing positive dynamics of students’ speech activity and internal motivation to learn German as well as their interest in mastering a foreign language. Prospects. Further research involves conducting a full-fledged pedagogical experiment in order to reveal students’ intrinsic motivation to learn German.